UK promises billions more for defence to counter threats from "axis of authoritarian states"

UK’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has promised billions more for defence to counter threats from "an axis of authoritarian states".

The prime minister said UK military spending would rise to 2.5 per cent of national income by 2030, in a move that hardens a previous spending pledge, according to BBC.

He stressed the UK was "not on the brink of war" but claimed the extra money would put the country's defence industry "on a war footing".

Labour is also committed to a 2.5 per cent target, when economic conditions allow.

Making the defence announcement during a visit to Poland, Mr Sunak said the UK was facing the most dangerous international environment since the days of the Cold War between the West and the former Soviet Union.

The investment was required because the UK was facing an "axis of authoritarian states with different values to ours," including Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China, he said.

These countries, he argued, were showing a "new assertiveness" and were increasingly working together.

It represents a significant increase in UK defence spending, but it will not change the size of the UK armed forces or reverse cuts to the size of the army.